The AFA recognizes many artists encounter barriers to application and reporting procedures. The AFA’s Accessibility Program offers financial assistance to help artists – such as those who are D/deaf, have a disability, or whose primary language is not English – access our individual project grants, scholarships, and the Art Acquisition by Application program.
Program guidelines
These funds are intended specifically to aid in submitting a new application or, for previous grant recipients, a final report. Accessibility Program funds cannot be used as part of your project budget or other related activities should you be approved for an AFA grant.
Accessibility Program funds are not guaranteed and must be approved by the AFA before you hire a service provider such as a translator. The AFA may approve full or partial amounts depending on the nature of your request.
To receive assistance, you must seek approval at least 10 business days (two weeks) before your application is submitted or final report is due, and prior to finalizing arrangements with your service provider. If funding is approved, your service provider is required to submit a final invoice to the AFA that will be paid to them directly within four weeks of your application or final report due date.
For new applications, approved funding will be paid regardless of whether or not your project is successful in receiving an AFA project grant. However, if you fail to submit an application by the program deadline, your funding will be cancelled.
If you are an existing grant recipient and are approved for final report assistance, your funding will be cancelled should you fail to submit your final report by its due date.
Who can apply for assistance?
This support is available to eligible individuals, or lead applicants of eligible ensembles or collectives, applying to AFA individual project grants or scholarships, or past grant recipients that require supports to complete their project reporting. This includes:
- persons living with sensory disabilities such as hearing and vision and/or physical or mobility-related disabilities
- persons living with cognitive disabilities or identifying as living with a mental health related disability
- First Nations, Inuit or Métis facing language, geographic and/or cultural barriers
- individuals whose primary language is not English
What can I use Accessibility Program funding for?
Eligible expenses include:
- application or report assistance
- transcription or translation services
- editing services
- creating an artistic resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
- organizing support materials
- other disability-related supports and services connected to writing a grant application, or submitting a final report
Ineligible expenses include:
- supports that you have already received funding for, or are provided at no-charge by your service provider
- costs to create support materials, such as contracting a photographer to document work or an editor to make a demo reel
- anything not directly connected to submitting an application or a final report
How much can I ask for?
For grant applications, the maximum amount is $200.
For final reports, the maximum amount is $75.
How do I apply for assistance?
Requests for the Accessibility Program must be received at least 10 business days (two weeks) prior to your application or final reporting deadline and are limited to individual funding opportunities for discipline-specific project grants, scholarships, and the Art Acquisition by Application program.
Application deadlines are listed on the AFA website. If a program deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend, it will be extended until the next business day.
If you have questions about how to request assistance, please contact the Arts Development Consultant listed in your program guidelines. You can also reach out to the AFA at 780-427-9968 if you do not know who to contact and we will connect you with the right consultant. A toll-free connection is available within Alberta by first dialing 310-0000.
To apply:
- Click here to download the Accessibility Program request form.
- Ask your service provider for a quote or estimate.
- Submit your request form and quote to your Arts Development Consultant by email.
When will I hear back?
The AFA will process your request within five business days (one week). If you are approved for assistance, the AFA will confirm the approved amount in writing.
What do I need to do if I receive access support?
The Arts Consultant for your program will help with any questions after your funding is confirmed and will request a release form allowing us to work directly with both you and your service provider.
Your service provider will also need to send a final invoice to your Arts Development Consultant once an application or final report has been submitted. Payment will be made directly to the service provider and may take up to four weeks to process.
Information for Service Providers
- The AFA does not automatically provide third-party access to an artist’s profile, application, or final reporting without direct consent. The AFA requires your artist to sign and return our release form so we can communicate directly with you and your artist throughout the process.
- Before reaching out to the AFA, have a preliminary discussion with your artist about their project and the funding opportunity they wish to apply to.
- AFA’s eligibility criteria vary from program to program. Please review guidelines carefully and reach out an Arts Development Consultant for clarification if needed.
- Review relevant resources and the Front Office User Guide as needed.
- Ensure the applicant has an up-to-date resume or CV of their professional artistic activities.
- Ensure that all required attachments have been uploaded to GATE, as these differ depending on the type of project activity.
What other ways can I receive help with my grant?
If you are not eligible for, or do not wish to request Accessibility Program support, please reach out to your Arts Development Consultant directly for questions related to your application or final reporting. While your consultant cannot comment on the artistic merit of your project, they can clarify AFA’s program guidelines, provide feedback on your draft application or reporting, answer questions about project eligibility and allowable expenses, and provide support for GATE Front Office use.